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2019 Subaru Ascent problems: engine and transmission complaints and recalls
No elevated drivetrain complaint concentration in the available NHTSA records for the 2019 Subaru Ascent. Engine, transmission and fuel system account for 31% of relevant complaints.
Better than 69% of the 1,790 model years we track (2010–2023).
Does the 2019 Subaru Ascent have engine or transmission problems?
Not as a pattern, going by owner complaints. 131 of 441 relevant complaints filed with NHTSA about the 2019 Subaru Ascent concern the engine, transmission or fuel system (31%). For comparison, the 2020 scores 28%. This describes the model year, not any one car: a well-maintained or already-repaired example can be fine, and a clean model year can still have a bad car in it.
Complaints by component
The years either side
Manufacturers fix things mid-generation. A bad year next to a clean one is common; the fix usually arrived in between.
How the 2019 compares with other Subaru Ascent years
Of the 5 Subaru Ascent years with enough complaints to score, the 2019 is the 2nd-worst on engine and transmission share (31%). The worst is the 2022 (42%), the best the 2023 (17%). By volume, the 2019 drew 441 complaints (131 drivetrain), against 322 for the 2020.
Subaru Ascent years to avoid and best years →
2019 · 2020 Ascent problems · 2021 Ascent problems · 2022 Ascent problems · 2023 Ascent problems
The rest of the picture on the 2019 Subaru Ascent
- The mileage where it happens. When owners of the 2019 Subaru Ascent said the problem showed up, and the range most of them fell in.
- Up to 15 owner reports, with the ones about your car's own engine first.
- What to ask the seller and what to check on the test drive, for this car.
- Two cars side by side, if you are deciding between them.
What one owner reported
One of 131 drivetrain complaints. The full report shows up to 15, with quotes about the engine in the car you are looking at first.
2019 Subaru Ascent engine and transmission recalls
Yes. NHTSA lists 6 recall campaigns on the 2019 Subaru Ascent involving the engine, transmission or fuel system, out of 9 in total. A recall is the manufacturer admitting a defect and paying to fix it; whether a specific car still has one open depends on its VIN, which the full report checks. The owner complaints above are a separate record and often point at problems that never became a recall.
Subaru of America, Inc. (Subaru) is recalling certain 2019-2020 Ascent, 2020 Legacy and Outback vehicles. A programming error in the Transmission Control Unit (TCU) may allow the clutch to engage before the drive chain is completely clamped.
Risk: An improperly secured drive chain may slip and break, causing a loss of drive power and increasing the risk of a crash.
Fix: Dealers will reprogram the TCU, inspect TCU data for chain slip, and visually inspect the chain guide. If evidence of chain slippage or damage is found, the transmission will be replaced. Repairs will be performed…
Subaru of America, Inc. (Subaru) is recalling certain 2019-2020 Ascent, 2018 Forester, 2018-2020 Impreza, Legacy, Outback, 2018-2019 BRZ, WRX, and Toyota 86 vehicles. The low-pressure fuel pump inside the fuel tank may fail.
Risk: Fuel pump failure can cause an engine stall while driving, increasing the risk of a crash.
Fix: Dealers will replace the low-pressure fuel pump, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed September 24, 2021. Subaru and Toyota owners may call customer service at 1-844-373-6614. Subaru's number for…
Subaru of America, Inc. (Subaru) is recalling certain 2019 Impreza, Outback, Legacy, and Ascent vehicles. The low pressure fuel pump may become inoperative.
Risk: If the low pressure fuel pump fails, the engine may stall without the ability to restart the vehicle, increasing the risk of a crash.
Fix: Subaru will notify owners, and dealers will replace the low pressure fuel pump, free of charge. The recall began June 4, 2020. Owners may contact Subaru customer service at 1-844-373-6614. Subaru's number for this…
Subaru of America, Inc. (Subaru) is recalling certain 2019 Ascent vehicles. The transmission hydraulic sensor may inaccurately measure the hydraulic fluid pressure.
Risk: If the fluid pressure is measured higher than its actual value, the hydraulic pressure will be reduced. If this occurs, the transmission drive chain may not have the proper tension, resulting in a loss of drive power…
Fix: Subaru will notify owners, and dealers will reprogram the transmission control unit. The hydraulic sensor harness will be replaced on vehicles with certain stored diagnostic trouble codes. In addition, any vehicle…
Subaru of America, Inc. (Subaru) is recalling certain 2019 Crosstrek, Forester, and Ascent vehicles. The aluminum Positive Crankcase Ventilation (PCV) valve can separate, allowing the separated components to enter the engine, resulting in a loss of power while driving.
Risk: An unexpected loss of power while driving can increase the risk of a crash.
Fix: Subaru will notify owners, and dealers will inspect and replace the PCV valve, free of charge. If the PCV valve has separated and the components cannot be found, the short block engine will be replaced, free of charge.…
Subaru of America, Inc. (Subaru) is recalling certain 2019 Ascent vehicles. The center support bolts for the driveshaft may loosen, possibly resulting in the front portion of the driveshaft disconnecting.
Risk: If the front end of the driveshaft separates, it can increase the risk of a crash.
Fix: Subaru will notify owners, and dealers will replace the driveshaft assembly, including the center support brace, free of charge. The recall began July 26, 2019. Owners may contact Subaru customer service at…
3 other recalls on this model year (airbags, lighting, brakes and the rest)
Source: NHTSA recall campaigns filed against this year, make and model. Checked October 3, 2026.
Checking one particular 2019 Subaru Ascent? This page is about the model year. Accidents, title brands and odometer records belong to the individual car, and that is what a vehicle history report covers.
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Does the 2019 Subaru Ascent have engine or transmission problems?
Not as a pattern, going by owner complaints. 131 of 441 relevant complaints filed with NHTSA about the 2019 Subaru Ascent concern the engine, transmission or fuel system (31%). It describes the model year, not any one car, so an inspection still matters.
What is the most common problem with the 2019 Subaru Ascent?
Going by NHTSA owner complaints, the most common problem filed against the 2019 Subaru Ascent is electrical system: 160 of 441 complaints (36%) name it, followed by power train (88) and visibility/wiper (66). A complaint can name more than one component, so these overlap. Engine, transmission and fuel-system complaints together make up 31% of the relevant total.
Is the 2019 Subaru Ascent reliable?
On the engine and transmission, nothing stands out: 31% of relevant complaints filed with NHTSA concern the drivetrain, below the 33% line where we call a signal elevated. That is better than 69% of the 1,790 model years we track. Among the 5 Subaru Ascent years we score, it ranks 2nd-worst. Complaint data describes the model year, not one car, and it says nothing about trim, paint or electronics outside the drivetrain; an independent inspection still decides it.
Are there engine or transmission recalls on the 2019 Subaru Ascent?
Yes. NHTSA lists 6 recall campaigns on the 2019 Subaru Ascent involving the engine, transmission or fuel system, out of 9 in total: 21V955000 (power train: automatic transmission: control module (tcm/pcm/tecm)), 21V587000 (fuel system, gasoline: delivery: fuel pump), 20V218000 (fuel system, gasoline: delivery: fuel pump), and more. Whether a specific car still has one open depends on its VIN.
Which Subaru Ascent years are better?
Among the Subaru Ascent years we track, the 2023 (17%), the 2020 (28%) and the 2021 (29%) have a lower engine and transmission complaint share than the 2019 (31%). Manufacturers fix things mid-generation, so the year before or after can be a different car. Every year side by side: https://thelanecheck.com/cars/subaru-ascent
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Check a VINExperimental model-level information. This is not a vehicle inspection, vehicle-history report, financial advice or purchase recommendation. It describes patterns across a model year, not the condition of any individual vehicle.